The Growing Number of Nones
Your eyes are not deceiving you. The title neither refers to "nuns" nor is it a misspelling. For the first time in the history of the United States, a 2020 Gallup poll has revealed that only 47% of American adults said they were members of a church, mosque or synagogue. ...
Program Reflections with Principal Jessica Saglio
Jessica Saglio, Principal at Our Lady of Carmel School in Bristol, Rhode Island, is a member of the National Catholic School Mentorship Program's first cohort. Hear how her school has benefitted from connecting and working together with other Catholic school leaders from across the country.
Meitler Minute
We all love to nurture things and see them grow. How can you help your parish grow? Mark Kemmeter has decades of experience and insights that can help your parish add new members without simply pulling Catholics from another parish, or waiting for new Catholics to move into town. Mark...
Revisiting the Research
The National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) and Foundations and Donors Interested in Catholic Activities' (FADICA) 2016 research on parent perceptions of Catholic schools as reported in The Catholic School Choice: Understanding the Perspectives of Parents and Opportunities for More Engagement identified four major directional priorities that Catholic schools should focus...
The State of Parish Reform
In July of 2020, the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy issued a new instruction on parish reform proposing ways to restructure parishes that face priest shortages and financial difficulties. The document goes on to state, What is happening around the world and, particularly in the United States, regarding parish reform...
Program Reflections with Principal Teresa Matetich
The National Catholic School Mentorship Program helps participants stay more focused and accountable through regular check-ins and meetings. Hear how the program helped Principal Teresa Matetich develop and implement her school's enrollment plan.
Meitler Minute
How will you transition your enrollment management strategy from passive to active? A comprehensive plan that includes marketing, communication, recruiting, enrollment and retention components is a powerful tool to help you reach your school's goals. Meitler can guide you through the entire process.
Leaning on One Another
What started out as a project to assist a transformational group of principals to create an enrollment management plan for their Catholic school communities expanded into a cohort of school leaders who both leaned on and supported one another during what may be the most challenging year in their careers...
The Pandemic’s Impact on the Parish
The first anniversary of the lockdown for COVID-19 is upon us. As we all struggle to adapt to a new sense of "normal" in our personal lives, how has the pandemic impacted parishes? CARA (Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate) has been studying the effects of the pandemic on...
Establishing an Enrollment Management Program
Establishing an enrollment management program is one of the most important steps a Catholic school can take. Be sure to establish clarity of your mission, form an enrollment management team, and then create your enrollment management plan that is specific and measurable. We can help you get there.
Does your planning use a roadmap or a compass?
In a recent webinar presented by our partner, Ruotolo Associates ("Foresight 2021: Leveraging Lessons Learned"), they discussed lessons learned regarding philanthropic giving during this past year of the pandemic. In their presentation, I found an interesting idea that poked at my thoughts and led me to a different take on...
Meitler Minute
A broad-based funding plan that looks beyond tuition and typical fundraisers is the best way to achieve long-term financial stability and sustainability. Developing this kind of long-range financial strategy is a part of our planning process when we engage with schools.
A Delicate Balance
This school year 2020-21, like years past and even more so now, Catholic schools have been experiencing an enrollment decline, particularly at the elementary school level. In a number of dioceses and schools, there has been the "COVID-bump" increase in the number of students. There is hope of retaining these...
The Important Role of Catholic Schools for Parishes
Catholic Schools Week is an opportunity to renew our understanding and appreciation for the importance of Catholic Schools. Catholic Schools are important not only to the individuals and families they serve but to the parishes which support and promote them. Some of their impact is not immediately seen. According to...
Meitler Minute
Happy Catholic Schools Week! Catholic Schools Week is an important time to reflect on marketing, recruitment, admissions, and especially retention strategies! Call us today to let us help you determine how to best support your school's plan for the future.
Meitler Minute
The Meitler team has been actively helping schools, dioceses, and parishes think differently during the pandemic. Dr. Jackie Lichter offers ten action steps for your organization to adapt and survive.
The Serenity Prayer and School Planning
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971) After working in Catholic education for more than 30 years, running a large, Catholic high school for 9 of those...
Meitler Announces Strategic Alliance
For over 40 years, Ruotolo Associates Inc. (RA) and Meitler have independently served clients across the country as mission-driven, impact-oriented partners. We share an unwavering commitment to the people, purpose, and promise of the institutions we are trusted to serve. In recent years, since becoming partner companies within Collegium, we...
Angela’s Vision
Meitler recently announced that Tom Heding was stepping down as the head of our company and that I was selected to become the third Director of this 50 year-old institution. For those who have not had the opportunity to work with me personally, I want to share some of my...
Meitler Announces New Managing Director
Meitler, the national consulting firm specializing in assisting the Catholic parishes, schools, and other faith-based institutions develop long-term strategic plans, announces the selection of its new managing director, Angela Gunderson, effective September 1, 2020. Angela becomes Meitler’s third leader, succeeding Tom Heding. Angela has been a teacher and a principal...